Wayne Watson - Nothing Ever Happens To A Shepherd Lyrics
Lyrics
SCENE 10:
Not far from the stable, shepherds are
sitting on a hillside watching their
sheep and complaining about the
thanklessness of their job.
SHEPHERD #1: It's cold out tonight
in this God forsaken place
And we're stuck here with a
thousand sheep
While life is exciting everywhere else
FOUR SHEPHERDS: The highlight of
our day is sleep
SHEPHERD #2: Shepherds are
notorious for making little profit
We garner just enough for room
and board
While everyone else wallows in
their wealth
FOUR SHEPHERDS: We're financially
ignored
'Cause nothing ever happens to
a shepherd
Life is boring as can be
While exciting things occur all over
the world
Nothing ever happens to me
Nothing ever happens to me
SHEPHERD #3: It's lonely out here in
this isolated job
Our position is without esteem
We're socially challenged, we're
society's scourge
FOUR SHEPHERDS: We're not exactly
every woman's dream
SHEPHERD #4: Shepherds have a
humble purpose
Of our fate, few people care
Sometimes I wonder if God knows
we exist
FOUR SHEPHERDS: If He does, I am
certain He's forgotten where
Nothing ever happens to
a shepherd
I'm common as common can be
While exciting things occur all over
the world
Nothing ever happens to me
Nothing ever happens to me
Shepherds are the lowest of the low
Or lives are void of mystery
Except for David killing Goliath
No shepherd will go down
in history
'Cause nothing ever happens to
a shepherd
I'm common as common can be
While exciting things occur all over
the world
Nothing ever happens to me
No, Nothing ever happens to me
GABRIEL: Do not be afraid, for I
bring good news
Which will be a great joy to
all people
For there is born this day in the
city of David
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And this will be the sign to you
You will find the Babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes lying in
a manger
Video
Nothing Ever Happens To A Shepherd - Child Of The Promise
Meaning & Inspiration
Wayne Watson's "Nothing Ever Happens To A Shepherd," released as part of "Child Of The Promise" on December 7, 2019, delivers a profound message by re-examining one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history through a uniquely human lens. The song opens with a portrayal of shepherds on a cold hillside, consumed by the drudgery and perceived insignificance of their daily lives. They voice a litany of complaints: their job is thankless, their profits minimal, their social standing non-existent, and their lives utterly devoid of excitement or historical impact. They lament their isolation, questioning if God even acknowledges their existence, let alone remembers their location. Their collective cry, "Nothing ever happens to a shepherd," encapsulates a universal human feeling of being overlooked, unimportant, and forgotten by both society and, perhaps, even by the divine. This sentiment deeply resonates with anyone who has ever felt their contributions were unrecognized or their existence inconsequential, reflecting a common struggle with purpose and value in a world that often celebrates only the prominent.
The song’s genius lies in setting up this deep sense of human despair and insignificance only to shatter it with a divine intervention that transforms everything. The turning point arrives with the angelic messenger, Gabriel, who brings not just news, but "good news which will be a great joy to all people." This announcement directly counters every one of the shepherds' previous laments. Suddenly, their "God-forsaken place" becomes the stage for a divine revelation; their "boring" lives are infused with the greatest event in history. The messenger declares the birth of "a Savior, who is Christ the Lord," born in the city of David and found, humbly, "wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." This direct address to the very people who felt "financially ignored" and "socially challenged" completely upends their worldview.
This narrative masterfully illustrates a core principle found throughout Scripture: God often chooses the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly insignificant to play crucial roles in His grand design. The shepherds, positioned at the very bottom of the social hierarchy in ancient Israel, were the first humans to receive the news of the Messiah's birth. This choice profoundly speaks to God's nature, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, where it says God chose "the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong… so that no one may boast before him." The shepherds, who believed they would "not go down in history" and whose lives were "void of mystery," suddenly found themselves central to a mystery that transcends all human understanding. Their humble purpose guarding sheep became inextricably linked to the Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for His flock, a concept mirrored in John 10:11. Their complaint of being forgotten is met with the most intimate and world-changing remembrance imaginable. The song ultimately serves as a powerful reminder that God sees the unseen, values the unvalued, and often works His greatest miracles through those who feel the most common. It offers deep encouragement to anyone who feels insignificant, assuring them that in God's eyes, nothing is insignificant, and truly, the most extraordinary events can unfold in the most unexpected lives.